Nipmuc High AD wins statewide award

UPTON – Only three years into the job, Nipmuc Regional High School Athletic Director Christopher Schmidt has gained statewide recognition for his morale and achievements.

Schmidt was awarded the Massachusetts Secondary School Athletic Directors’ Association (MSSADA) Theodore “Ted” Damko Award because of his clear dedication to student athletics, and overall attitude, according to Principal John Clements.

The Damko Award is granted to athletic directors in Massachusetts that have been on the job for three to five years. There are awards for each individual district, and an overall state winner, which Schmidt was named.

“When Chris joined us, one of things we recognized about him is how passionate he is about being an athletic director,” Clements said. “He just hit the ground running. He’s had so much impact not only with success on the field, but more importantly in the pride behind Nipmuc Athletics.”

Clements also said that as far as he knows, this is the first time a Nipmuc director has earned the title.

Clements said that Schmidt started working a couple months before his contract start date, just to get to know the swing of things. He said that Schmidt has taught the student-athletes valuable lessons in sportsmanship, and has done well to promote and teach leadership within teams.

Schmidt, a former social studies teacher who became vice principal at Franklin High School, said he has found his true niche in his position at Nipmuc.

“I’ve always had my eye on this type of position,” he said. “These last three years have been some of the most professionally rewarding years of my career.”

Clements said that Schmidt’s leadership style focuses on making sure the student’s time in athletics is also a learning experience.

“I think the students see him not only as an athletic director, but a mentor,” Clements said. “His work ethic, his talent, his insight, really holds up against even the most veteran athletic directors. … He’s the heartbeat of Nipmuc athletics, and I really stand by that.”

Schmidt, unpretentious in accepting the award, said he hopes to keep up the good work his peers believe he’s doing.

“I think that every athletic director in the state works hard to advocate for their community and their kids. To receive an award that resembles that, from my peers, is really humbling,” Schmidt said.

The formal presentation of the award will take place at the MSSADA Annual Awards Banquet on March 29 at the Resort and Conference Center in Hyannis.

Scott Calzolaio can be reached at scalzolaio@wickedlocal.com or 508-734-0389. Follow him on Twitter @ScottCaz